True Async vs 'Async Communications'

GitLab calls itself “async” because they use Slack instead of meetings.

That’s like calling email “revolutionary” because it’s faster than postal mail.

Same synchronous paradigm. Different tools.

True async means NO organizational synchronization:

• No collective deadlines (packets don’t have sprints)
• No approval chains (TCP doesn’t ask permission)
• No synchronized planning (DNS doesn’t have quarterly goals)

We discovered most “async” companies are just synchronous organizations with better communication tools. They still have:

• Synchronized work hours (just across time zones)
• Collective deadlines and milestones
• Hierarchical decision-making
• Centralized planning

True async is architectural, not tooling.

Each actor operates on their own clock. Coordination happens through protocols and contracts, not meetings and managers. Work flows like water finding its level, not like soldiers marching in formation.

The difference isn’t subtle. It’s fundamental.